What can you do with a Architecture degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

First, some facts. Of the Architecture graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 89%, Architecture graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have a substantially higher likelihood (+22%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 89%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 25% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Architecture graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Architecture graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) in Architecture. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Designer
SHoP Architects
Jun 2016 - Mar 2020
The designer position at SHoP Architects directly utilizes architectural knowledge and skills acquired during the Bachelor's in Architecture, making it highly relevant.

Associate
SHoP Architects
Mar 2020 - Apr 2023
As an associate at SHoP Architects, the job requires extensive application of architectural principles and competencies developed through the Bachelor's degree, further confirming its relevance.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Architecture degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


Looking at the job profiles of those who graduated with a degree in Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it’s clear that many of them have landed roles directly tied to architecture. A large chunk of graduates worked as Architectural Designers or Junior Architects right after finishing their degrees. These positions typically require the architectural skills and foundation they've built during their studies, making it pretty relevant for their career paths. It's also common to see graduates advancing to roles like Project Architect or even Senior Project Architect, which demonstrate a progression in their architectural expertise and responsibilities over the years.

However, not every job listed is strictly architectural. Some roles like Project Manager or Quality Control Engineer involve elements of project management and engineering that don't necessarily dive deep into architectural design principles. Even positions like Design Consultant or Digital Fabrication Specialist have varying levels of relevance to core architectural skills. In short, while the majority of jobs held by these alumni are related and beneficial to their architectural background, there's a mix of roles that branch out into related fields or apply their knowledge in different ways. Overall, you can say that their architecture education truly helps shape their careers, even when they step outside of pure design roles.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Architecture graduates (this is across all Architecture graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute):

What kind of career trajectories do Architecture graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

From the profiles of graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it seems like folks tend to kick off their careers in architecture with roles like Junior Architect or Architectural Designer. The first jobs after graduating often involve working as part of a team on a variety of projects, which is pretty standard in the architecture world. For example, several graduates from 2010 quickly landed positions at firms like Sadar+Vuga Arhitekti and Woodward Connor Gillies and Seleman Architects, diving into hands-on design work right off the bat. As they gain a few years of experience, many of them move up the ladder to Project Architect or even Senior levels, showing a clear progression that fits well within the architecture field.

Looking further down the line, let’s say five or ten years after graduation, many graduates continue to find solid roles that keep them connected to architecture. You see people transitioning into management roles, like Project Managers, and even executive positions, like Vice President of Real Estate, which reflects the upward mobility of their careers. While there are some who veer off into more specialized fields such as quality control or digital fabrication, a good chunk seems to stick to architecture-related positions, and some even rise to prestigious firms or roles with significant responsibilities. Overall, it looks like RPI graduates are doing quite well in their careers, generally staying within the architecture realm and progressing to higher levels of expertise and responsibility over time.

How hard is a Architecture degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Alright, so getting a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, whether it's at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or anywhere else, is definitely not a walk in the park. It tends to be on the tougher side because it combines a lot of demanding stuff—like design projects, technical skills, and theory. You’ll spend long nights on studio work, balancing creativity with engineering principles. At RPI, you're also dealing with a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes both art and science, so be prepared for a lot of late nights, critiques, and a steep learning curve. It’s challenging, but if you're passionate about creating and designing, it can be super rewarding too!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 5 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Architecture.

Do Architecture graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tend to make good money?

Based on the job paths of these Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute architecture grads, they seem to be doing pretty well for themselves, especially the ones from the Class of 2010 who are currently at a high-level position as Vice President of Real Estate. It looks like the field has good earning potential, especially as they progress to roles like Project Architect and Designer, where salaries typically rise significantly with experience. The 2016 grads are starting to really climb the ladder too, with positions like Associate and Project Manager, indicating they're probably making decent cash. Newer grads are still getting their feet wet in various roles, but they're in a solid industry with plenty of opportunities. Overall, it seems like these folks are carving out a good living in architecture!

What buzzwords do Architecture graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Architecture (this is across all Architecture graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Architecture?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Architecture (ordered by the average relevance score of their Architecture graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Penn State University 97 11
Woodbury University 95 18
University of Central Florida 94 10
Northeastern University 93 12
University of Southern California 93 21
University of Arizona 92 14
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 92 11
Roger Williams University 91 15
The University of Texas at Austin 89 15
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 89 14
Clemson University 89 16
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 89 10
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 89 12
New Jersey Institute of Technology 89 12
Pratt Institute 89 22
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 88 23
University of Oregon 88 17
Virginia Tech 88 17
Ball State University 88 23
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 87 35
North Dakota State University 86 10
Texas Tech University 85 17
Georgia Institute of Technology 84 13
Carnegie Mellon University 84 11
Temple University 83 12
Iowa State University 83 14
University of Kentucky 82 15
New York Institute of Technology 82 17
University of Michigan 81 16
University of Houston 81 15
University of Cincinnati 79 20
Illinois Institute of Technology 79 18
Arizona State University 78 10
University of Florida 78 20
Wentworth Institute of Technology 78 24
University of Illinois at Chicago 77 13
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 76 10
The Ohio State University 73 15
Texas A&M University 72 11
Savannah College of Art and Design 72 18
The University of New Mexico 72 10
The University of Texas at San Antonio 71 16
University of Minnesota 69 11
Lawrence Technological University 69 11
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 68 15
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 63 16
Miami University 63 11
Kent State University 52 17